OUseful Info

Mashing the Library Mashup Compeition? Compleat Grazr on Google ig

The results of Talis' Mashing up the Library Cmpetition have just been released with John Blyberg's Go-go Google Gadgets taking first place, and the collaborative Second lIfe Library 2.0 taking second.

Blyberg's gadgets put Library services onto a Google personal page, which is a great
way of helping users consume library services where they want. Way to go, John:-)

And as is the way of mashups, it's inspired an extension to my related MUTL entry showing how to bundle and display library related web feeds: the Compleat Grazr/OPML Library Interface on Google:

Getting the Grazr gadget onto Google was easy using The Cow Contraption, which takes an OPML file URL, mixes it with a Grazr URL and generates an 'add to Google' button for you:

Another related 'getting the libray out there' approach that didn't appear in the MUTL competition, though I was hoping it would, was the display of library services on Netvibes.

Here's my take on it so far:

1. personal info:

   

2. Journal info:

   

3. Course related info - in this case from the OU MyOpenLibrary service:

   

All that's required to get this information onto Netvibes are the addresses of relevant web feeds - and a little bit of thought about how to organise them.

Usability is improved by providing OPML files for bulk 'upload' of feeds to Netvibes, or, even better, the creation of shareable Netvibes tabs which could be simply added to a user's profile. (If you search for ouseful on the Netvibes ecosystem, you'll find my shareable tabs.)

I don't think that Netvibes supports groups - or allows tab publishers to limit who is allowed to copy a tab, which might be useful in some circummstances? Anyway, the first step is surely to get some shareable library tabs up there?

(NB For Netvibes, also read Pageflakes, etc.)

PS the MUTL competition continues...

Rather than re-run the same competition again next year, we wish to encourage innovative work on an ongoing basis. As such, the competition web site reopens today, and will accept new entries. We will periodically assemble a team of judges to select the best submissions since the last time entries were judged. In addition, we will seek to reward particularly innovative or compelling examples on an ad hoc basis, outside the normal cycle of judging.

Should I..? shall I...? Oh what the heck: MUTL06 - or has the tag been changed?

Posted by ajh59 at September 11, 2006 11:58 AM